The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-29
THE GREAT NATIONAL GAME.
Preparations of the Home Club Are
About Completed for the First Play.
All the Men Will Be Here in Time-SiX Of
Them Have Already Reported Personally
-GOssip from Other Clubs.

All that is necessary for a successful opening
of the base ball on Friday is fair weather
Outdoor practice during the cold weather yes
terday was not to be thought Of, but it went on,
nevertheless, under cover. Glasscock says he
has no fears but that the indianapolis team will
convince Cincinnati that good ball can be played
here even under the disadvantage of little prac-
tice. The ground improvements were completed
yesterday, ana everything is in readiness
for the first game. The players who
have not reported are on their way. and
will certainly be here to-day or tomorrow morn
ing. Glasscock. since his arrival Sunday, has
gone to work with vim, and is helping to hurry
up few of the laggard men. He is giving them
all to understand that the Indianapolis club
means business, and if they are going to play
here they will have to be on hand Immediately.
Two more Of the best players in the club came
in last evening. Emmett Seary. of St Louis,
and j. F. Cahill, of Oakland, Cal. The latter
reports that Denny left California in advance of
him, and should have been here yesterday morn
ing. The remainder of the St Louis
men, Mappes, Boyle. Kirby and Quinn,
left st. Louis yesterday. and will reach
the city the early train this morning.
Seary states that all of them have been in
active practice for several weeks, and are in
splendid playing form. The following players
are now here: Glasscock, Seary, Cahill, Abe,
Calender and McKeon The team will be COM
plete before Thursday evening.
The Brunswick Hotel has been made the
headquarters of the men, and yesterday and
last evening they received calls and coneratula
tiox ~ Of
them deny that they at any time have been
.averse to coming to indianapolis On the con-
trary, they were perfectly satisfied with the
sale Of the franchise to Indianapolis and never
entertained any other idea than that of report
ing here for duty in good time 1t is the opn-
ion of Glasscock that the season is to open
too early to do justice to the team.
According to the League rules men are not COM
PEELED to report for duty until April l, and when
the season is opened on that date League clubs
play to disadvantages However, there Is no
disposition their part to object to the initial
game Friday. The directors held meeting
yesterday, but will meet night to have a con-
sultaton with the players with regard to the ar
rangements for the first game.
But few people are aware of the amount OF
work the directors have done to successfully
establish the club. They have encountered diff
cultles every hand, all of which they have
overcome. The financial problem had hardly
been solved until their trouble with some of the
players under reserve began. 1t is suspected that
parties in st. Louis and perhaps. Kansas City,
who were disappointed when Indianapolis secured
the franchise responsible for this embarass-
ment 1t Is also charged that Spalding, OF
Chicago, who released several Of his men and
sold Kelly under the conviction that he could
secure Glasscock, and perhaps Denny, and there
by restore his team to its former condition, was
much put out by the action of the League.
At the time Indianapolis got the franchise Mr..
Shomberg gave Mr., Newberger list of the sal
70 h. <hn
had signed with ST Louis for 1887 By compar-
ison with the figures in the contracts themselves
Mr. Shombergs statement overshot the total by
1000, so that the club considers itself that
much ahead. 1t Is understood that GlaSsceck is
to receive So 500 Denny first demanded So 800,
but finally accepted $500 advance money on a
contract calling for 50 800 The other men will
receive from $1,000 to s., 600 apiece. according to
their several abilities. The salary list will foot
up $24, 600. There twenty men under
reserve, and the heaviest duty Gasscock has &c
perform is to determine who shall remain out
Ii Poorman. of the Bostons, can DE secured
there will be still another. The opinion prevails
that when the opens Gasscock will be
manager as we'll a. captain. Albert S. Morgan
of DecatuS al Who to have managed the
club had 1t remained in St. Louis, is an appii
cant for the position
BASEBALL NOTES.
John Brennan, OF this CITY, has been appont &c
umpire by tho Northwestern League.
Boston has made three offers for Richardson
Of the Detroit club. They were So 000 Sc, 500 ant
$500
The Indianapolis club organization will no
dispose of any OF the ground stand privileges
but utilize them for the benefit of the treasury.
Deacon White maintains that not Leagu
player in the country will have batting averag
of over 800 at the close of 1887 unless the ney
rules are rescinded.
At the recent meeting of the American Asso
ciation rule was passed providing that onl
twenty five frse-pass books could be issued b.
each club under penalty OF $500 fine.
The discipline at Hot Springs under which tn
Chicago team is placed includes baths eac
morning and practice in the Afternoon. o.
Tuesdays. Thursdays and Saturdays the team i
divided to play exhibition games, filling in wit
very strong players who are at til
springs
Sam Thompson, of the Detroits, whose HON
is at Danville, Hendricks county, has a brothe,
1t is said. who will make as good if not bette,
ball player than himself and if the Indianapoli
management arrange it satisfactorily tn
young fellow will be given a chance to make hi
debut here.
James Mccormick, the famous pitcher OF tn
Chicago champions. said on Sunday that he ha
ne. signed any contract with the Bostons, bu
had received an offer from them which he woul
probably accept. He believed that Spaldin
would release him. and spoke as though he wa
sure of playing WITT the Hub club.
The bill making the Downing Sunday law a,
ply to ST Louis has passed both branches of til
Missouri Legislature and only awaits the Go,
ernor's signature to become a law. Withol
Sunday games it is thought that high price
baseball team will not pay in St. Louis. Undt
this law the American Association schedule wi
have to be revised.
One of the guild thinks that the new rules wi
make life burden to umpires. 1.-The pitcher
he said, must face the batsman with the ba
in front of him. This will allow more freedo
to runners TO steal bases. When the rum,
starts for second base the pitcher must lose m nc
valuable time In turning to throw the ball in O
der to head him off. The play must be close
all times, and it rests mainly the judgment
the umpire; and the chances are that the d
eision. no matter which way it is made, wi
raise a howl of disappointment"